1942

Steve Rogers smiled politely and left the girls behind him, walking to the bar, where a man was sitting with a glass of liquor between his hands. Steve clapped his shoulder and sat by his side, asking the barman another drink. The man smiled and looked at his friend with his blue eyes.

"I can't believe that little boy who always was taking a beating is now a national hero..."The man looked sideways and his smile grew up wider. "And is surrounded by girls. When have the roles changed?"

Steve laughed and took a sip of his drink, leaving the glass on the bar counter. His friend, Bucky copied him and both began a conversation of vain topics. As both were orphaned, they knew that nobody was waiting for them to return from the war. Well, Steve thought, Bucky had his own fan club of girls whom he had dated, waiting for him to call again or to write.

"I can't ask you to come, Bucky. You know that"

His friend smiled and raised his glass.

"I'm with you, mate. 'Till the end of the line"

Both smiled at that sentence and toasted a quick end of the war. Bucky emptied his drink and Steve looked around, hearing a happy song on the radio. A few girls danced with soldiers, men Bucky and him knew. The atmosphere was foul due to the smoke of the cigarrettes. A man had a girl sitting on his knees and she was laughing loudly. Bucky glanced at two girls who were whispering and staring at them.

"Steve..."Bucky hit his friend on the shoulder and waved his hand. The girls laughed and did the same. Steve couldn't hide a smile growing up on his face and shook his head, turning again. His smile froze as he saw a woman coming to them.

"Oh..."Steve stood up and looked at her. She was wearing a red dress combined with her lipstick. "Miss Carter"

"Mr. Rogers" she said with her English accent, raising her hand. Steve shook it.

"It's a surprise having you here. This is my friend, James Barnes" Bucky raised an eyebrow and used that smile that had melted dozens of hearts before. Peggy glanced at him and turned her eyes to Steve again.

"I'm here to meet an old friend of mine. She's a new agent and will be working with us in the future"Peggy stared at some point behind Bucky and smiled, walking towards the person.

"She didn't even look at me. I'm over."

"C'mon, Buck, don't say that" replied Steve laughing and saw the two ladies coming back.

"Mr. Rogers, Mr Barnes, this is my dear friend, Elise Baker" Steve took her hand and kissed it slightly. She turned to Bucky, discovering him glazing at her. Peggy cleaned her throat with a grin in her face. "Mr. Barnes, are you okay? It seems Elise is the first lady you've seen in ages"

"What?"Bucky shook his head, noticing his cheeks blushing as he saw himself acting as a fool. "I'm sorry, miss Baker. I was distracted"

"I saw it" she said with a funny smile "Were you thinking of the number of letters you will have to write when you are fighting or maybe you are thinking of the name of your last girl?

Both Steve and Bucky seemed speechless as Peggy began to laugh, grabbing her friend by her shoulder and staring at Bucky with an eyebrow raised.

"Be careful, Mr. Barnes. Elise Baker is not one of your ladies"

"It seems so" he replied after he recovered from the surprise "What's your job here, doll?"

"First, Sergeant Barnes, my name is Agent Baker by now" she said as she continued smiling. "Second, you'll know in a few weeks. Don't worry about that"

"Your company is so precious for us, gentlemen, but we need to go back"

"It's too early, don't you think, Steve?" Bucky asked his friend without taking his eyes off Elise"May we invite you to a drink, ladies?"

"Maybe other day, Sergeant Barnes" Elise replied and she turned, walking near Peggy when she heard his voice again

"What about a dance, babydoll?"

"Goodnight, Sergeant Barnes"she answered without turning and both ladies left the bar.

Steve and Bucky took their glasses again and thought about what had happened. Steve still had Peggy's eyes on his head and Bucky couldn't stop shaking his head, like he couldn't believe it.

"Two girls have rejected me. Two. Unbelievable"

But as he drank his liquor, he still remembered Elise's laugh.

Present.

She was nervous.

No.

She was terrified.

Not everyday she began to work with Tony Stark at the Avengers Tower.

She blamed her grandmother and Peggy. She didn't like being there.

"Miss Baker" A tall blonde woman was there, smiling politely and friendly at her. "It's a pleasure to have you here. I'm sorry but Mr. Stark..."

"He's either working or playing with his toys, isn't he?"

Pepper Potts sighed and her smile got wider as she nodded. She didn't know about Alice until a few years ago, when Tony had asked J.A.R.V.I.S to search the situation of somebody. He was excited and nervous and then Pepper saw the photo J.A.R.V.I.S was showing. A young lady, with green eyes and brown hair was looking at her. When she asked who was her, Tony almost jumped.

"It's Alice! She's back in the States! Is not wonderful?"

"It'd be if I knew who Alice is"

"My sister! Well..."Tony smiled and hugged Pepper as he saw her face. He was an only child so that answer was shocking. "It's not really my sister, as you'd know. But it's like if she was. My father knew her grandmother and I knew her and her parents..." Tony began to tell Pepper the story as he was moving his hands to select what he wanted.

"He's out right now, but some members of the team are still here. If you want, you can meet them"

"Is it a good idea?" Alice said following Pepper to the lift and smiling nervously at her.

"Don't worry. They'll be delighted and you'll feel like home"

Like home.

Alice wanted to believe that, but she didn't know what was to be at home anymore.

Pepper lead her to a bigger living room where she found a man reading a book and a ginger woman speaking with another man.

"Dr. Banner, Miss Romanov, Mr. Burton, I'm glad to introduce you Miss Alice Baker. She'll be the Avengers connection with the outside world. SHIELD, Fury...You can ask her to find whatever you want and she'll do"

The Avengers' members came to meet her and she felt nervousness leaving her body as she spoke to all of them. Dr. Banner was more reserved, Natasha was friendly and she showed her happiness to find another girl in the team and Clint Burton shared her thoughts.

"The rest of the team will be here to have dinner, so you'll have the oportunity to meet them all. Even though, I'll try to find Tony. I knew he wanted to see you as soon as you got here"

"Thanks for your help, Pepper"

"Oh, it's nothing. Come with me, I'll show you your room"

She said goodbye to the members and followed Pepper again. The lift went up and she walked self-confident to a wide and illuminated room. It had only the essential, but Alice felt immediately as it was hers. Pepper looked at her as she entered the room and scanned everything. What Alice loved the most were the magnificent views she had.

"Feel free to decorate it as you want. You can rest now or I can bring you some books. I wouldn't like to give you business information yet"

"I think I'll sleep"

"Fine. J.A.R.V.I.S will call you to have dinner or if Tony needs you"

Alice thanked Pepper again and looked around her. She stared outside the window and sighed, leading her to the bed and taking off her shoes, climbing onto it. She covered herself with the soft blankets. They smelled like lavender and that reminded her those moments in her grandmother's house. She shook her head. She shouldn't be remembering her. Not now.

Alice Baker closed her eyes and it was the first time in months she could sleep without nightmares.